Thill-coupling



No. 622,604. Patented Apr. 4, |8499.

E. F. CULVIN. TI-IILLl SOUPLING.

(Application Bled Jan. BSTISSS) "---llllllln i l 5 /N VEA/TOR nire rane naar irren.

EDVARD FRANKLINKOOLVIN, OF MILTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,604, dated April 4, 1899.

Application filed January 28, 1899. Serial No. 703,681. (NOJllOdl-l is a perspective view of my improved coup,

ling applied to a carriageLaXle, the thills being shown raised, as when in use. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same parts. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2, save that the thills are shown raised and supported vertically. Fig. 4 .is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 7, the thills being in the same position as in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a section show- .ing the'thills lowered or in the position they occupy when not in use. Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5, the thilliron being omitted. Fig. 7 is a top plan view showing the thill-ircn in the same position as in Fig. 5, whereby the thills are adapted for detachment. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the head of the thil1iron with bolt and eccentric-headed clamp-screw attached. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the clamp-screw in the form it possesses before being applied as required in use. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the thill-pintle or pivot-bolt.

In the following description it will be understood that the words or terms thills or shafts apply to a tongue or pole as well, since there is practically no difference in the attachment of the same to axle-clips.

The thill-irons 1 (see Fig. 1) are bolted to the thills or shafts, proper, 2 in the usual way, and they have also the usual construction,

save that a hole is tapped in the upper side of their cylindrical heads 3 at right angles to the horizontal bore that receives a pivot-bolt, as hereinafter described. (See especially Figs. 2, 3, and S.)

The bolt 4 (see Fig. 10) has at one end a lateral rectangular' projection or head 5,which is arranged at a right angle to its body. The jaws G of the axle-clip 7 are adapted to receive such bolt 4; but the body of said clip is constructed and secured to the axle S and bolster 9 in the usual way. The said jaws 6 have vertical slots or sockets lO and 11 in their inner sides, the same leading down from the upper side or edge to the horizontal bores or eyes 12, which are the same as providedin clips of the usual construction. The cylindrical end of the bolt 4 passes down in the socket 10, and the rectangular head 5 is adapted to enter the other socket 11. The latter is extended rearward in the jaw ofthe clip (see Figs. 4 and 7) to allow the head 5 of pivot-bolt 4 to pass backward therein, and thus secure the thills from accidental detachment when their free ends are raised to the normal position required for use, as in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, in which case the said head assumes a rearwardly-inclined or oblique position and engages the overhead iiange of the clip-jaw 6, as-shown best in Fig. 4. The clamp-screw 13, which serves to secure the bolt in the thill-iron 8, with its head 5 at the proper angle, is constructed initially, as shown Vin Fig. 9, with a narrow elongated and pointed head 13a. rl`he point of the screw enters a shallow socket 14 (see Fig. 10) in the bolt 4, so that the latter is held or locked securely against rotation in the thill-iron head 3.

The screw 13 is screwed into the tapped holein the said head 3, and then its head or arms 13a are bent inward so that they form a slightly-eccentric curve, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, their points resting upon or being contiguous to the head 3 of the thill-iron, so that rotation and loosening of the screw are impossible. In short, this position of the screw-head locks both the screw and bolt immovably. Such form and position of the head 13 of the clamp-screw adapt the head to'coact with the spring 15 for preventing` rattling of the coupling. The springis formed of a flat plate and has a V shape. lts free ends are heldin a space provided for it in rear of the thill-head 3. One of such cnds is provided with a hole to receive a stud or pin 17, which is castintegrally with the clamp 7, whereby the spring is held detachablyl in place; but the front end or leaf of the spring 15 bears directly upon the curved head 13L of the bolt-screw 13 when the thills are raised, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, whereby rattling is effectually prevented. It will be further observed that the same bearing or contact occurs when the thills are raised to the IOO vertical, as shown in Fig. 4, so that they are held in such position without extraneous aid. On the other hand, when the thills are lowered, as shown in Fig. 5, the free end or leaf of the spring 15 does not bear upon the screw* head 13, butagainst lugs 18, Figs. 4, 5, and 6, which are cast integral with the clip proper, 7,'and project downward at the front end of the recess 16. Hence the spring 15 applies no pressure or friction tending to Vprevent free insertion and removal of the thill-iron into and from the clip, and hence offers no obstruction to attachment and detachment of the thills from the axle. Such attachment and detachment can obviously be made only when the thills arc lowered to the position indicated in Fig. 5, since then only is the head 5 of bolt 4 in vertical alinement with the slot or socket 11 in the clip-jaw 6. The manipulation is made in the one case by simply lift ing the thills (while held at the downward 'inclination they normally assume with their free ends resting upon the ground) and then lowering them, and in the other case-'t'. e., detachment-by lifting them until the bolt 4 passes out of the sockets 10 and 11. If the horse should accidentally get free of the vehicle and the thills drop upon the ground, theywill instantly become detached, the same as if manipulated by hand.

It will be noted the eccentricity or curve of the screw-head 13L is greatest in its upper portion, and hence the pressure and friction of the spring 15 are increased as the thills are raised, which more effectually prevents rattling.

The spring 15 is easily insertible in place when compressed by pincers or other means. It will be further observed that if the spring should become cracked or broken such disability will have no effect upon the security of the coupling proper.

The clip-jaws 6 are provided with theeyes 12 for the purpose of permitting the application and use of an ordinary pivot-bolt if any emergency should require it.

The ordinary thill-irons--say those already in use-require no alteration save tapping the screw-hole in the head 3.

It will be understood thatI do not propose the head 13t of the screw shall in all cases have a curve which is eccentric to itself; but in any case the said head, however it maybe curved, necessarily always forms a cam-like projection on the thill-iron head 3.

What I claim is- 1. In a thill-coupling, the combination with the thill-iron, a pivot-bolt secured thereto and having a polygonal head, means for securing such bolt in place, and a clip having jaws provided with internal sockets adapted to receive the ends of such bolt, and one of said sockets having a rearward extension to receive the bolt-head and prevent accidental detachment, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a thillecoupling, the combination with an axle-clip having jaws provided with internal sockets of a thill-iron having a bolt provided With a rectangular head adapted to enter one of said sockets and to pass into a recess in rear thereof when the thill-iron is elevated or inclined at an upward angle substantially as shown and described.

3. In a thill-coupling the combination with an axle-cli p having jaws provided with inter nal sockets, of a thill-iron and a detachable pivot-bolt therefor having a polygonal head projecting laterally therefrom `and adapted to engage a flange in rear of vone of said sockets, and means for locking the said bolt with its head at the angle required to adapt it for such engagementwhen the thills are elevated and to allow ready detachment of the same when the thills are lowered, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a thill-coupling the combination with a clip having jaws provided with sockets as specified, of a spring arranged in rear of said sockets and a thill-iron having lateral proj ections adapted to engage in the sockets, and a cam or curved projection on the thill-iron head which works in contact with the aforesaid spring when the thill-iron is elevated and is free from or out of contact with the same when the thill-iron is lowered, as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a thill-coupling, the combination,\vith an axle-clip having jaws provided with sockets, of a thill-iron having pivotal extensions for engaging said sockets, a spring arranged in rear of the latter, and an eccentric applied to the cylindrical portion of the thill-iron head and consisting of ascrew having an elongated head whose points are bent down thereby forming an eccentric curve, substantially as shown and described.

IOC

6. In a thill-coupling the combination with an axle-clip having jaws provided with sockets, a spring arranged in rear thereof athilliron having a detachable pivot-bolt and a means for locking said bolt with its head at the required angle, the said means consisting of a screw having its head curved to act upon the spring when the thill-iron is elevated, as

shown and described.

7. A thillecoupling, the combination, with clip-jaws having sockets one of which is open at the top, of a thill-iron having a detachable pivot-bolt provided With a rectangular head adapted to work in a socket and pass through the slot thereof, and a clamp-screw for secu ring the bolt in place, the same being inserted through the body of the thill-iron head on the rear side adjacent to the spring, and having a curvedhead extended above and below,l

substantially as shown and described.

EDWARD FRANKLIN COLVIN.

Witnesses:

Il. E. ANGSTADT, C. F. BUEUR.

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